One fine Sabbath day while sitting in Sacrament meeting, I started logging how many of our hymns in our hymnbook mention Zion. Although I don’t have my log here in front of me, I do remember that 5 of the first 10 hymns mention it. But, I wondered, “Is just singing about Zion enough to […]
Posts by John Taylor Wilford Woodruff:
You Ready for Economic Equality?
I’ve broken up with comments a single paragraph below from a talk Orson Pratt gave in September of 1854. Let us prepare ourselves for the coming of Enoch’s Zion, that we may have the same order of things among us that they had in the beginning. Then, again, it will be a glorious thing in […]
Thoughts on Zion 23 – God is Waiting For Us to Build Zion
There are three common objections to the idea that we can build Zion. The following are quotes from a talk given by President Brigham Young on February 23, 1862 which I believe refute these objections: 1. Jesus must build Zion, we can’t. “We are not going to wait for angels, or for Enoch and his […]
We Have to Build Up Zion Independent of the Wicked
“We have to build up Zion independent of the wicked; we have got to become self-sustaining, and the Lord is inspiring His prophets to preach to us to lay the foundation for the accomplishment of this work. The day is not far distant when we shall have to take care of ourselves. Great Babylon is […]
Thoughts on Zion 22 – Building Zion From Day One
In recent articles here, we’ve seen how building Zion was a central doctrine of the LDS Church. Actually, the early Saints were actively building a Zion society here in Utah from the very start, and not just spiritually. LDS historian Leonard J. Arrington reported how the advance company set the pattern of central planning and […]
Orson Pratt Zings the Saints on Economics
Ran across a long talk by Orson Pratt, given 3/9/1873. He begins by quoting D&C 78: 3 For verily I say unto you, the time has come, and is now at hand; and behold, and lo, it must needs be that there be an organization of my people, in regulating and establishing the affairs of […]
Any Doubt Building Zion is Also an Economic Activity?
Sure enjoying reading all the Zion-related quotes by early Utah Church leaders. Here’s a doozy. Bet you can’t read this one without realizing that building Zion is as much an economic activity as it is a spiritual one. This is President Brigham Young: Suppose we should say to a few of the Latter-day Saints, if […]
“Lest ye receive of her plagues”
Studying the discourses given by early LDS Church leaders about Zion, I ran across this jewel given by Brigham Young on 2/3/1867: And one of the last writers we have here in this book—John the Revelator—looking at the Church in the latter days, says: “Come out of her, my people”—out of Babylon, out of this […]
Thoughts on Zion 21 – Building Zion Spiritually
“This body of people, or church, has got to build up the Zion of God in the last days, and this work cannot be accomplished upon any other principle than that of our being united together as the heart of one man.”
149 Years Ago Today
On 7/19/1863, Apostle Heber C. Kimball closed his talk that day this way: May the Lord multiply his blessings upon you, brethren and sisters, and upon all the faithful ministers and Saints throughout the world, and may He bless all those who do good, who love righteousness and desire the welfare and building up of […]
The Early Utah Saints Were Literally Building Zion
As I have been reviewing quotes from talks given by LDS Church leaders in the 1850s & 1860s, I have run across two dozen statements that make is blatantly clear that the early Saints were in fact in the process of building a real live, brick and mortar Zion society. Here’s quote #24 found just […]
“We have to labor with our hands”
One hundred and fifty nine years ago today, at a conference held at “Provo City, Utah Territory”, President Brigham Young opened his remarks by saying: …if we are to build up the kingdom of God, or establish Zion upon the earth, we have to labor with our hands, plan with our minds, and devise ways […]
Oxymoron: “Zion’s Gold Mining”
I recall reading with shock Hugh Nibley’s criticism of Utahns’ use of the word “Zion” to give an air of legitimacy to Babylon-style businesses and organizations here in Utah. I remember at the time being surprised by his lambasting such companies as “Zion’s Bank”. Now, decades later, after having studied and pondered the scriptures and […]
Thoughts on Zion 20 – What it Takes to Build Zion
While reviewing talks given by LDS church leaders during the 1850s and 1860s, I found 26 statements that fell into the category of “What it Takes to Build Zion”. In pondering these, I realized that they fell into two subcategories: Spiritual and Temporal Requirements. In 1855, President Brigham Young, indicated that building Zion is as […]
The BIG Picture
For my personal scripture study, I have been reading every mention of building Zion in all the talks given by the Apostles and Prophets from the 1850s forward in an attempt to truly understand what their vision was for building Zion. While doing so, I’m seeing commonalities and patterns. I’m also running into quotes I […]
Thoughts on Zion 19 – Building Zion in Utah
Why do we Mormons use the term “Zion” to refer to the Church here in Utah? It’s because our LDS forefathers were actually, physically engaged in building a real-live Zion society here during the 1850s and beyond. Our use of the term in that context today is just an echo of their determined efforts to […]